Helmut Marko and Red Bull risk repeating critical Liam Lawson mistake with Arvid Lindblad after FIA superlicence granted

Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad has been granted an FIA superlicence after Red Bull applied for a special exemption.

Drivers must be 18 or over to obtain a superlicence from the FIA, as well as meet certain requirements, such as a certain number of miles in F1 machinery. However, teams can apply for an exemption, as Mercedes did with Kimi Antonelli in 2024.

Red Bull have been pushing to get Lindblad a superlicence for 2025, with the Brit winning the Formula Regional Oceania Championship over the winter. Now, the team have had their request approved, with the 17-year-old set to become a reserve driver for the team.

It comes as Max Verstappen faces a potential race ban after colliding with George Russell at the Spanish GP. Red Bull will test Ayumu Iwasa if the Dutchman is suspended for a race weekend, with Lindblad bolstering their options.

Currently competing in his debut season in F2, Red Bull are talking about Lindblad like Verstappen when he first burst onto the scene. The Brit became the youngest winner in the series’ history by winning the Sprint race in Jeddah, highlighting how much potential he has.

Red Bull risk another Liam Lawson situation if they are not patient with Arvid Lindblad

Heading into 2026, Red Bull are in a mess with their driver line-up. Three drivers are out of contract in 2025, while Max Verstappen’s future remains uncertain as he is linked with a move to Mercedes and Aston Martin.

Liam Lawson began the season with the Milton Keynes outfit, having snubbed Yuki Tsunoda for the seat after impressing the team at Racing Bulls. Despite only making 11 appearances in F1 prior to the move, Christian Horner felt Lawson had a higher ceiling.

However, Horner would be proved wrong as Lawson desperately struggled in the RB21. Failing to reach Q2 or score points in the opening two races, the New Zealander was replaced by Tsunoda from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards, giving Lawson the shortest Red Bull career in history.

Since his promotion from Racing Bulls, Tsunoda is now also struggling to find any performance in the RB21. Red Bull have been surprised by Tsunoda’s lack of pace compared to Verstappen, having qualified last in Barcelona.

With Lindblad receiving special exemption for a superlicence, it is clear that Red Bull are eyeing the Brit up for a move to F1 very soon, possibly as early as 2026. If the 17-year-old is granted a promotion, the team must be patient.

The teenager is Red Bull’s next rising star, but as the likes of Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Lawson, and now Tsunoda have proved, rushing into a driver decision can be costly. Lawson lost total confidence at Red Bull; they cannot afford to make the same error with Lindblad.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad including his parents

What does Arvid Lindblad need to do to get his shot in F1?

If Lindblad is to make the jump to F1, it is likely to be with junior team Racing Bulls. But first, he has to prove his credentials in F2.

After six race weekends, the 17-year-old is third in the standings, eight points behind championship leader Alex Dunne. Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies says F2 is ‘the goal’ for Lindblad before he is afforded more time in F1 machinery.

Lindblad wants to copy Gabriel Bortoleto in F2, after the Brazilian won the title last season off the back of winning F3 in 2023. Now racing for Sauber, soon to be Audi in 2026, the Red Bull talent wants to emulate Bortoleto’s path to F1.

However, Red Bull must take things cautiously with the Brit, given the long history of failed drivers over the last few years. With the daunting record, Lindblad may want to think about leaving Red Bull if he wants to progress in F1.